VAN STUFF

 MONDAY - Took the Skoda in for an oil change £180 then went to B&Q and bought a new table top a waste bin and some magnetic catches and cabinet handles .

TUESDAY - Fitted the new table top put the magnetic catches on the doors and cupboards fitted the seat belt clips behind our seats so the dogs are fastened in securely which is a legal requirement .Need to get use to reversing the van and car on to the drive I prefer driving forward on to the drive and reversing off I think it makes life easier could do with the drive being a foot wider .

We need to order a 12v fridge and a toilet and tent as well as another 100 or so other things some expensive some cheap but it all adds up main thing is we have a van .

WEDNESDAY - Not enough hours in the day specially when I go to work at 16.30 Helen painted the kitchen units and seating benches from grey to white all the handles are on found some black bolts that wont need cutting down makes life easier .Ordered of Amazon a rear door awning the clips over the rear doors when they are both opened wide .

V-DAY

 SATURDAY - It's V-day which of course without a doubt stands for Van Day .We pick it up just after midday we will tax there then  it pay the cash and drive it away for the first time to it's new home .The cash transfer from my bank for the remainder of money owed transferred from my bank  without a hitch.

Drive home - After showing us the vans layout we set of back to Holmfirth missed having apple car play need a decent mount for my phone  the gears change was smooth its a six speed box no issues getting use to an handbrake again went on stopped at the petrol station and put fifty quid in got us have a tank roughly no major hiccups all went ok soon got used to the layout of the van got it home and it now sits on the drive Helen and her cousin are cleaning the inside .I topped the windscreen washer bottle and the coolant .

SUNDAY - Washed the roof of the van and solar panel they were dirty couldn't reach it all need some higher steps but its cleaner than it was started to rain showers most of the day .

LIVE IT

 WEDNESDAY - The lady that is selling us the van is putting in a new leisure battery  in the camper van we are buying off her .So it should be all charged up ready to go it also comes with a two year warranty.

If it all charges and we can life off grid we wont need a electrical hook up  to keep it topped up as the solar panel will do that . The main items that  will need power will be the fridge and our phones .As the cooking facilities will all be gas.

The two main items I need fitted is a 12 v max air fan with remote control and rain sensors ,  and a review camera like the Wolfbox G900 pro if I buy these I am hoping the local garage will fit them .

We bought some cook wear plates and bowls along with some pans that sit inside each other with fold out handles it also contains a frying pan that will fit a sausage and egg in if your lucky .Helen bought some fold up steps to get in and out of the van .And a wind breaker I think we need to get the van and go out there and learn from being in the van there is only so many You Tube videos you can watch as good as they are we need to live it .

PASSED IT

 MONDAY - Back at work at least it wasn't as hot but still a chore first shift after a break  quite a few people were asking after the van .

WEDNESDAY - Went to Ikea Helen spent her cash on buying items for the van including bedding , three throws , cushion covers , shelve , cooking utensils , containers for storage , kitchen rails with hooks , chopping board , collapsible wash bowl and  other items I have already forgot about of course she is excited I get it but the main item we need to pay for is the van which is the biggest expense .

FRIDAY - Looking forward to the weekend .

SATURDAY - Took Helen over to Bramley for some readings I stayed at her cousins house was given a new leisure battery for the van it is not the best but it is new and never been used the one in the van we are getting is dead as a dodo .

SUNDAY -Started reading Shari Lapena book "She Didn't See It Coming" it is quite gripping .

MONDAY - Judgement day the car goes in for it's second MOT it failed on a rear side tyre it had a slash in it so new tyre fitted car sorted .

GO BIG

 SATURDAY - Did nothing much it was hot sat in the garden enjoying the day thinking about camper vans and all the accessories we need to get some essential items some can wait the main item is the van which we will have a fortnight today .I have started parking my car one side of the drive so I can get used to leaving space for the van . If it is not feasible the the car will have to go on the street will see . 

England beat Norway 2-1 through to the semi finals is it coming home maybe I never thought I would be getting a camper van so in life anything is possible don't give up on your dreams .

SUNDAY - Went to the biggest Go Outdoors in Europe at York Vangarde Huntington shopping park it was massive over two floors spent a good hour looking round some great car roof tents and one you could pull along behind your car .We went to M&S also situated there and bought pork pies , sausage rolls , scotch egg , salad and fruit as well as chill jam , brown sauce and short bread biscuits. We then visited Helens parents forgetting that the Wimbledon men's tennis final was on live t.v .

 

BOUGHT ONE

 THURSDAY -We went to see another camper van to Macclesfield Nottinghamshire to meet a lady called  Jessica who owned a Ford Transit self converted camper van that she modified with the help of her Grandfather .The white paint work pristine odd speck of rust bit nothing drastic the dashboard was clean with quite a nice layout it is six speed manual diesel engine with 93k on the clock even though it is mot'd  until October ,  we have bought it we paid a deposit of £250 and will pay the balance on collection for us it represents freedom and a new hobby for weekends and weeks away  on annual leave  we have watched van lifers on You Tube for the last  fifteen years now we are about to do it .I have insured the van it was £350 for the year and I have joined the AA that's for break down cover I don't have a drink issue .They are loads of things we need to buy like a 12v fridge , Ridge Monkey shower , a Jackery and rear door awning but the main item is bought the rest can follow as and when .

We cant pick it up until Friday next week then we will go on our first drive not sure where but it will be a new experience and the big bonus is the dogs can come with us .

NO , NO, AND NO AGAIN

 MONDAY - Saw a camper van for sale £3800 it is  VW Transporter Leisure drive 1.9 tdi on a 2005 plate mot until April next year .Pictured below 

Then we saw another listing that we are driving over to see tomorrow it is a Ford Transit 2.5 diesel with 60,000 miles on the clock and will have a years mot put on the van before it is sold that is £5,795 .nearly £2000 more than the VW and five years older is it worth the extra 2k .

TUESDAY - Went to view the camper van directly above you think the person selling it would clear out the previous owners crap vac the carpets clean the paintwork clean the cab .No they couldn't be arsed it was a pigsty .Some trim was missing from one of the doors , the roof had a bad scrap to the front slope it was very disappointing a big no. The other van was also a no you had to pay upfront it got delivered at a further cost of £120 you had ten days to either love or hate it if hate it they would pick it back up and give you your money back no fcuking way having a giraffe .

WEDNESDAY - Messaged the seller of this van it was in Matlock the gentleman selling a stand up guy but once again you could have washed and clean the van before letting people view it it is high milage which could be lower than what is shown they had a replacement  speedometer fitted  with the wrong mileage so its is going to be another no also the pop top had the bed bit missing so its only function was to give you head room .We go view another van tomorrow a Ford Transit h2 not sure if it is mwb or a lwb .